Block pallets
A block pallet is built on blocks instead of stringers, so a forklift or pallet jack can enter from all four sides. It is heavier and usually more durable than a stringer pallet, and it has its own buyers.
How a block pallet is built
The frame is a set of blocks joined by parallel and perpendicular stringers, with deck boards on top and bottom. Because the gaps between the blocks run in both directions, forks enter from any side. That makes block pallets easy to handle in a tight loading zone or a narrow aisle.
| Part | What to check |
|---|---|
| Blocks | Cracked or crushed blocks make a pallet unsafe. A missing block ends its useful life. |
| Stringers | Splits along the grain and loose nails. |
| Deck boards | Broken or missing boards can be replaced. |
| Deck coverage | Solid deck suits small cartons and bagged goods. |
Who wants block pallets
Docks that automate, docks with narrow aisles, and docks that load from the side. Export shippers like them for crates. Because block pallets are heavier, shipping cost matters; a dock that ships by weight will weigh the choice.
Sound used block pallets in common sizes sell. A damaged block is a repair or a grind. We read the frame before we call the grade.
Selling and buying block pallets
- Selling. Say the size, the count and the condition of the blocks. A sorted pile of sound blocks is a sale; a mixed pile with stringer pallets goes through a sort.
- Buying. Say the size and how you will handle them. We say what we can match.
- Both. A dock that swaps stringer pallets for block ones is a dock program.
We state no price or stock count for block pallets here.
Questions of handling
Block pallets suit docks where equipment approaches from more than one side: narrow aisles, side-loading doors, carousels and automated lines. The extra opening cost is repaid in time saved turning a stack. They also stack in racks well, because the blocks give even support at the corners.
The weakest point is the block itself. A block that has been crushed by a forklift tine or split along the grain compromises the whole corner. We look at the corners first and the deckboards second.
What a block pallet costs to repair
Block pallets are heavier to handle and slower to repair than stringer pallets, so repairers favor them less. A cracked block can be replaced if the pallet is otherwise sound, but when two blocks are damaged, the pallet is often better dismantled for lumber. We say which way a given stack goes.
Where block pallets are the norm
Block pallets are common in export freight, automated warehouses and chemical and beverage docks. Many of them are built to a standard and rented from pools. Used block pallets sold on the open market are fewer than stringer pallets, so a sorted stack is worth looking for.
Blocks instead of boards
A block pallet has blocks between the top and bottom decks, with stringer boards linking them in some builds. The blocks allow entry from all four sides, and they spread weight better than a single stringer can. They tend to cost more and weigh more.
Questions
- Are block pallets worth more than stringer pallets?
- They are usually heavier and more durable, and often priced higher when sound. Condition matters more than type.
- Can a block pallet be repaired?
- Yes. Deck boards can be replaced and a damaged block can be swapped, depending on the frame.
Related
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-11.